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CONTENTS.
palling Slaughter on both Sides - Rebel Prisoners' Ward—“You-
uns is very good to we-uns!"-The Rebel Surgeon's Fear - Meet
an Old Acquaintance among the Rebel Wounded - The Valiant
Eleventh Illinois - Great Prejudice against Protestant Nurses-
The "Sisters" preferred-"They never see anything, nor hear
anything, and tell no Tales!"-Good General Strong, Post Com-
mander at Cairo-Am sent to St. Louis for Invalid Soldiers-
Turner's "Descriptive List" Missing - Found in the Clerk's Office
- General Curtis discharges him He also furloughs young
Brackett-Great Jollification in the Ward- They accompany me
to Chicago
-
71
217
CHAPTER X.
THE DARKEST PERIOD OF THE WAR-MY VISIT TO WASH-
INGTON IN 1862-STRANGE EXPERIENCES ON THE JOUR-
NEY - PITIFUL SCENES IN A CONVALESCENT CAMP.
--
Woman's Council called in Washington-Mrs. Hoge and myself the
Chicago Delegates - Darkest Period of the War-Am detained at
Suspension Bridge-A Restless Crowd in the Waiting-room — A
blind Vocalist Charms them to Quietness Homeward-bound
Invalid Soldiers on the Trains-Repulsive Instrument of Slave
Torture Trains going North from Washington packed with fur-
loughed Soldiers - President Lincoln's Explanation "The War
to be ended by Strategy!"-We take in our Charge a sick Soldier
-New Experience in Baltimore Visit to Dorothea Dix-Her
extensive Work-Superintendent of Women Nurses - Washington
Soldiers' Home - Amy Bradley the Matron "Solid Chunks of
Sunshine" — Visit Alexandria — “Camp Misery”—“A perfect
Golgotha"-Great Indignation of Visitors - Amy Bradley takes
up her Abode in the Camp-Great Improvement follows —“The
Soldiers' Journal " We visit President Lincoln.
232
CHAPTER XI.
LIFE IN A CONTRABAND CAMP-WASHINGTON IN 1865-A
CONTRABAND PRAYER MEETING MY INTERVIEW WITH
SECRETARY STANTON - THE DRUMMER-BOY OF THE
EIGHTH MICHIGAN.
Fugitive Slaves rejoicing in Freedom - Prayer-meeting in Camp - Meet
old "Aunt Aggy"- An Episode of Slavery "Thar's a Day
a-comin'!" - Lively Praying - Tempestuous Singing - Intense
Sectarians — A Boy Philosopher—Visit Washington in 1865 — Great
Changes - Deserters from the Enemy - Runaway Negro with a
Six-Mule Team—Courtesy and Kindness of Secretary Stanton
Meet Admiral and Mrs. Farragut - Their Simplicity and Geniality
-Lieutenant Cushing, the Hero of the Rain Albemarle-Other
Eminent Notabilities - The Drummer Boy of the Eighth Michigan
-Enlists with his Teacher-Charlie petted by all - His Teacher
and Captain shot at James Island - Fierce Life of the Eighth
Michigan-Charlie shares it All-Struck by a chance Shot
Fatal Result
257
CHAPTER XII.
A TRIP DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI - AMONG THE SICK AND
DYING OUR MISSION AND STORES - LOVING MESSAGES
FROM HOME-A BRIDE'S SONG FOR A DYING SOLDIER.
The Army encamped at Young's Point-They cut the Levees Great
Sickness results - Special Relief Corps sent down-Mrs. Colt, of
Milwaukee, and myself attached to the Corps - Our Programme -
Outfit - Some of the Messages entrusted me - Our wheezy Boat
Disloyal Officers - Musical Talent on Board - Singing in the Hos-
pitals Touching Episode - Scene in a Memphis Hospital
"Mother, don't you know your Boy?" - Our Headquarters in
Memphis, at Gayoso House - Women Secessionists - To be sent
within Confederate Lines- A stormy Interview-"Allows me to
be at large!" We embark on the Tigress for the lower Mississippi
A dreary Journey .
280
CHAPTER XIII.
ALONG THE DREARY RIVER-SAD SIGHTS IN A REGIMENTAL
HOSPITAL-JOLLY BATTERY BOYS-I AM WELCOMED TO
CAMP BY OLD FRIENDS.
Perils of the lower River - The Tigress and its disloyal Officers - The
Stewardess a Virago-"I could throw you overboard as if you
were a Cat!"-Lake Providence and its fathomless Mud - "The
Sanitary Commission's got mired!"— Go down to Milliken's Bend
-Distribute Supplies to Hospitals-Sorry Plight of a Wisconsin
Regimental Hospital Surgeon-General Wolcott, of Wisconsin,
breaks it up-In the Camp of the Chicago Mercantile Battery --
"What a Hubbub! What a Jubilee!" - Evening Prayers
in Camp - The Boys get Breakfast —“ The Victuals will taste
better if you don't see the Cooking!" Leave for Young's
Point General Grant's Despatch Boat Fanny Ogden gives
me Passage
295
OPPOSITE VICKSBURG ARRIVAL AT GENERAL GRANT'S
HEADQUARTERS-MY INTERVIEW WITH HIM-MY PETI-
TION-A TOUCHING STORY.
We call on General Grant - Reticent, patient, and persistent - We put
ourselves on "short Rations" of Talk with him-Stories of his
Intemperance foul Calumnies-His chivalric Defence of General
Sherman Am entrusted with a Variety of Errands to him- My
Decision concerning them - Second call alone on General Grant-
"The Gibraltar of America"-The General is very accessible-
Not hedged about by Formalities-The most bashful Man I had
ever encountered "I will let you know To-morrow "- Discharges
twenty-one invalid Soldiers, and gives me Transportation for them
- One dies in Memphis - Another dies in Chicago, almost Home. 308
CHAPTER XV.
I AM INSTALLED HEAD COOK IN A FIELD HOSPITAL-CHEER-
ING UP THE "BOYS"-CAPRICIOUS APPETITES-MY RIDE
WITH BLACK SOCRATES-VICKSBURG.
Large Field Hospital at Young's Point — Am put in Charge — Cater
to the capricious Appetites-"Tea and Toast" for a forty-five-
year-old "Boy"-"Tea! tea! tea! from the homespun Teapot"
-Lemonade under Difficulties - Men transferred to Hospital
Steamer City of Memphis - Visit to the Thirteenth Illinois-
"Socrates" and his Six-Mule Team" Mules is dat mean dey
has ter be licked!" - Accomplishments of the Thirteenth Illinois
"The stealing Regiment" Accompany the Engineer Corps
down the Levee-Peep into Vicksburg with a powerful Glass -
No sign of Home-Life-Rams Lancaster and Switzerland run the
Blockade - One destroyed, the other disabled. .
319
CHAPTER XVI.
COMING UP THE RIVER-A FREIGHT OF LIVING MISERY -
GOING OUT FROM THE LAND OF BONDAGE-AMONG SICK
SOLDIERS, CONTRABANDS AND REFUGEES.
A forward Movement -
Gunboats run the Vicksburg Batteries - They
convey Transports down the River-Troops cross and beleaguer
Vicksburg-We take Passage in the Maria Denning for Cairo-
The Boat packed with human and animal Misery-Sick Soldiers
comforted by our Presence-Johnny, the Virginia Refugee, given
to my Care - His History - The tempestuous "Praise-meetings"
of the Contrabands tabooed - Refugees encamped on the River
Bank-Signal the Boat to stop - The Captain dares not Fears
Treachery - Meet Ford Douglas at Lake Providence — Agree to
take a slave Boy to Chicago, despite Illinois "Black Laws"
339
CHAPTER XVII.
THE STORY OF THREE LITTLE ORPHANS-SMUGGLING A
PLANTATION WAIF THROUGH "EGYPT"-THE UNDER-
GROUND RAILROAD-SAFE AT LAST-AFFECTING MEET-
ING.
We find three Orphan Refugees in Camp Convalescent, Fort Pickering
Their pitiful History - We take them to the Chicago Home of
the Friendless - Adopted by an Iowa Family-Cairo makes Addi-
tion to our Cares — Lizzie the Orphan Refugee from Missouri - Go
aboard the Chicago Sleeper, with Johnny and the black Lad — The
stuttering Porter hides the black Boy-"D-d-d-dat Woman's slep'
mighty little fo' mos' s-s-s-six Weeks"- -"She's d-d-d-done got mon-
st'ous sick❞— We defy “Egypt" and the "Black Laws" — Reach
Chicago at Midnight-Sunday Morning, hunt up the black Lad's
Mother— Affecting Meeting - Sarah Morris tells her Story —
Johnny and Lizzie cared for
356
CHAPTER XVIII.
OUR BATTERY BOYS-A SECRET DRILL-THE DISCOVERY
OFF TO THE FRONT-GOD-SPEED AND FAREWELL TO MY
SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOYS-EXTRACTS FROM THEIR DIARIES.
Our Church in Chicago - The Morale of its young Men - - Memories of
the Past A loyal Congregation - What happened at Evening Ser-
vice-Sudden Disappearance of our young Men- A peculiar Sound
from the Sunday-School Room - Tramp! Tramp! Tramp ! - We
stealthily open the Door and peep in - Our Discovery - "We have
all decided to enlist". - An unspoken Prayer - All but two of our
young Men are mustered into the Chicago Mercantile Battery -
The Grief of Parting-Solemn Consecration An affecting Fare-
well - Extracts from their Diaries - A jolly set-Roughing it
without Whining - The Art of Frying Cakes "Sweet Times
here" The Siege of Vicksburg - Awaiting the Battle - Army
Life at the Front - "Spoiling for a Fight"
- Ordered into Action
- We keep up Communication with our Boys - A Country devas-
tated by War-An unexpected Visitor
75
369
CHAPTER XIX.
THE STORY OF OUR BATTERY BOYS CONTINUED-A DISAS-
TROUS EXPEDITION — A TRAP OF DEATH AND DESTRUC-
TION-SCENES OF HORROR-THRILLING ACTS OF BRAVE-
RY AND DEVOTION.
Changes among our Boys - Breaking down under the Hardships of
War The Battery constantly shifts its Encampment - Working
hard to kill Time - The Humorous Side of Life in Camp - History
of "Doggie Doggett," the Canine Member of the Battery — His
Exploits and Unknown Fate-Lost in the Service - Unfortunate
Expedition - Up the Red River - Charging the Enemy with a
Baggage-Train - Our Boys fall into a Trap of Death and Destruc-
tion - A terrific Charge by ten thousand Rebels - Overpowered
by superior Numbers - Retreat or Surrender the only Alternative —
The Guns of the Battery captured - Death of Lieutenant Throop
- Sergeant Dyer shot while spiking his Gun - Many of our Boys
are taken Prisoners-Hugh Wilson's Devotion Only eight of
our Boys return at the Close of the War.
387
CHAPTER XX.
THE FIRST GREAT SANITARY FAIR-RAISING MONEY FOR
HOSPITAL RELIEF-A GREAT AND MEMORABLE DAY—A
MOTLEY PROCESSION THREE MILES LONG.
Continued Needs of the Hospitals lead to a great Sanitary Fair — A
Woman's Enterprise from the Beginning-Large Preparations—
Seventeen Bushels of Fair Circulars and Letters sent at one Mail
-Mrs. Hoge obtains Help from Pittsburg and Philadelphia - Pot-
ter Palmer from New York-Boston and Connecticut contribute-
The whole Northwest ransacked for Attractions - At last, Men
catch the Fair Mania - Their varied Gifts - Opening Inaugural
Procession-Captured rebel Flags borne along-School Children
in Carriages and Omnibuses-Convalescent Soidiers from Hospitals
-Procession of Farm Wagons, with Vegetables - Procession halts
on the Court House Lawn-Firing of thirty-four Guns announces
the Opening of the Fair
409